KPK probes other key figures in Hajj quota case during examination of Yaqut
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is probing other key figures in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case during its examination of former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Wednesday.
“This examination is necessary to further investigate the possibility of other parties who played central roles in the alleged corruption,” said KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo to journalists in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Budi made the statement as the first examination of Yaqut proceeded after the suspect in the Hajj quota case had his detention transferred from the KPK.
The detention transfer involved moving from a state detention house (rutan) to house arrest, then back to KPK detention.
Previously, on 9 August 2025, the KPK began investigating the alleged corruption case related to Indonesia’s Hajj quota for 2023-2024.
On 11 August 2025, the KPK announced an initial calculation of state losses in the case exceeding Rp1 trillion, and prevented three individuals from travelling abroad for up to six months.
Those prevented were former Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, Ishfah Abidal Aziz alias Gus Alex as Yaqut’s special staff, and Fuad Hasan Masyhur as the owner of the Maktour Hajj organising agency.
On 9 January 2026, the KPK announced that two of the three prevented individuals became suspects in the alleged Hajj quota corruption case, namely Yaqut and Gus Alex.
However, Yaqut filed a pre-trial motion against his suspect designation at the South Jakarta District Court on 10 February 2026, registered under case number 19/Pid.Pra/2026/PN JKT.SEL.
On 19 February 2026, the KPK announced an extension of the travel ban only for Yaqut and Gus Alex, while Fuad’s was not extended.
On 27 February 2026, the KPK announced it had received an audit from the Financial Audit Board (BPK) of the Republic of Indonesia regarding state financial losses due to the Hajj quota case. Then on 4 March 2026, the KPK announced that the state financial losses from the case amounted to Rp622 billion.
Subsequently, on 11 March 2026, the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court rejected Yaqut’s pre-trial motion.
On 12 March 2026, the KPK detained Yaqut at the KPK’s Red White Building Branch State Detention House.
Then on 17 March 2026, the KPK detained Gus Alex at the KPK’s Central Anti-Corruption Education Building Branch Detention House. While walking to the detention vehicle, he stated that there was no order or flow of money in the Hajj quota case to Yaqut.
On the same date, Yaqut’s family requested the KPK to allow the former Minister to be under house arrest. The KPK then granted the request, and Yaqut has been under house arrest since 19 March 2026.
On 23 March 2026, the KPK announced it was processing the transfer of Yaqut’s detention from house arrest back to detention house. On 24 March 2026, Yaqut officially became a detainee at the KPK Detention House.